We Get to Stay

Here's the part nobody tells you: What happened after we won. We get to stay! We get to stay! Not just survive another day. The war is not our only song. We have a home. We still belong. The cure is found. The Calling's gone; My hair turns gray; my days go on. I plant the fields I once defended; My tale has turned, not simply ended. The crown sits crooked. Let them stare; My people eat. That's why it's there. My son is not some ancient plan; I watch him grow into a man. No child is bought, no life is sold; I break the Crows' most cruel hold. My sword still serves. My soldiers learn: Not every border has to burn. Warm skin, fine shoes, a pulse that stirs; I still despise those bloody birds. Old paws asleep beside the door; You need not guard us anymore. I come home sober, stay till dawn; My child wakes up, and I'm not gone. My father's crest meant fear before; Now hungry children find my door. They carved my death upon a stone; Now every sunrise is my own. My sister's home. I write again; Our tales outlast the swords of men. We get to stay! We get to stay! Not just survive another day. The war is not our only song. We have a home. We still belong. Back from the Fade, I claim my chair; For once, no crisis waiting there. My mother's roses climb the wall; Our home has laughter after all. My guards bring lost kids home at night; No frightened child must earn that right. I teach freed children how to write; No master owns the words tonight. My crew signs on; no souls are sold. We chase the dawn--and, yes, the gold. No blood is owed; my people pass To safer homes through silver glass. No tower locks. No lowered eyes. My little students light the skies. My crown buys bread, not one more blade; Let mercy be the vow I made. Behind each name, a hearth burns bright; I guard those homes, unseen at night. Unbound, I tend the poor again; No pardon claimed for all their pain. No borrowed flesh, no wrath, no blade; I guard the helpless in the Fade. New roofs, old friends, a tavern song; I saved your seats. What took so long? We get to stay! We get to stay! Not just survive another day. The war is not our only song. We have a home. We still belong. An empty sleeve, a steady hand; I plant a tree upon this land. No holy title claims my days; I choose my road, not others' praise. I train new Seekers, brave and true; Then steal an hour for chapter two. The nobs lose gold; the children eat. Red Jenny dances down the street. My Circle thrives; young talents rise. The court now meets us eye to eye. I carve small toys, not grander lies; And give the shamed a chance to rise. I give the chained a voice at last; My homeland need not be its past. My Chargers laugh. My choices stand; That clever mage still takes my hand. They ask my name. They save my chair; I help, and know they want me there. The Chantry doors stand open wide; No birth can keep a soul outside. My hands grow still; the blue thirst fades. We build a refuge, not more blades. Our crest flies high on ships once more; My pen keeps soldiers from the shore. No child shall pay to mend my past; I paint a dawn that gets to last. She gave her dawn so ours could start; Her healing moves from heart to heart. The cup took her; her courage stays; We bear her dream through brighter days. He held the line so we could run; We speak his name beneath the sun. He held the line; we reached the light. His last brave choice outlasts the night. We get to stay! We get to stay! Not just survive another day. The war is not our only song. We have a home. We still belong. For those who never saw this day: We keep their light. We get to stay!